Palate of Mohamedia

The palate of Mohamedia is a Palais Tunisia N today in ruins and located close to the locality of Mohamedia. Originally wanted by Moustapha Bey like a vacation resort and rest with the variation of the Capital , it transforms under Ahmed I Bey into an ambitious complex of various constructions.

Impressed by the ostentation of the Castle of Versailles, at the time of her visit in France with the invitation of the king Louis-Philippe, Ahmed I Bey conceives, with her return, the idea of Tunisian Versailles. Consequently, it devotes all its time and the resources limited of its kingdom to the ruinous realization of its dream.

On the slopes chosen for this purpose, served by the road connecting Tunis to Zaghouan which skirts old the Roman aqueduct, the dwellings of the civils servant and the tradesmen as well as the barracks of the army follow one another, new the Souk S close relations of the Mosquée and the Hammam, the palates of the Mrabet general and the principal ministers of which Mustapha Khaznadar. Higher, the palate of Ahmed I Bey dominates the whole of the new city.

Without completely giving up the traditional style which dominates still certain parts of the palate, one then hopes to equalize in this new construction the imposing proportions and the architectural style of European constructions. The interior is decorated of Marbre of Carrare, Faïence S of Naples, Meuble S modern as well as Luster S and ices of Venice.

To died of Ahmed I Bey, in 1855, his successor Mohammed Bey transports not only the furniture of Mohamedia but also all materials - marbles, earthenware and woodworks - towards his new palate of Marsa. Today given up and almost forgotten, remain of the palate and its surrounding structures only of gigantic ruins in a advanced state of dilapidation.

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